Rubber-sponge body-rubbing device



May28, 1929.

c. E. MCKEAG 14.687

RUBBER SPONGE BODY RUBBING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1927 INVENTOR,

BY 7 Mia i-y Patented May 2s, 1929.

UNIT-ED s A'r-Es PATENT I OFFICE.

, cmnns E. McKEAG, or Los mourns, catrroauu. I

Application. filed August 22, 1927. Serial no. 214,664.

The present invention relates to bath equipment and especially to a sponge rubber strap device.

An important object is to provide a per- 5 fectly sanitary bath strap whose elements are all of water-proof material and which is devoid of fabric, and fibrous and metallic parts and has no bristles to deteriorate under soap and Water effects. I i

Another object is to provide a bodyrubbing device including rubber sponges set-in spaced relation on the strap so that the strap will be held away from .the sides of the body at the ribs and other portions while the sponges are worked back and forth and thereby not only eliminate friction of the flat strap directly on theskin but also render it easier to vibrate the spronges to and fro over the thigh, rib and leg curves.

A further'object is to provide a bath strap having a fixed rubber sponge so shaped and arranged that the strap passes axially through the sponge and this is, therefore, usable reversably and does not have to be apv plied with one side in a given position.

Further, an object is to provide a novel method for the manufacture of the instru ment.

Still another object is to provide a sanitary, water-proof bath strap of simple, practical structure especially designed for longservice by reason of its capacity to resist deterioration by action of water and bath soaps.

:5 Other objects, advantages and features of the construction, combination and detail elements will be made manifest in the following specification of the herewith illustrated'em-' bodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptationsare within the principle of the invention as claimed later.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the bath strap Figure 2 is a cross-section through the strap and a sponge thereon. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a mounted sponge rubber. Figure 4 shows a form of finger-loop strap end. Figure 5 shows a step in the method of manufacture.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a stout, flat, flexible, rubbercomposi-tion strap 2 of desired length in two or three different sizes for use by adults and children. The ends of the strap may be provided with any desired finger or hand loops 3, as m Fig, 4, or rings 4, as in Fig. 1. In the latter case small bights 5 are made in the strap ends and the laps'6 are stitched down by cat-gut stltches 7. The rings 4'may be of pelluio d, rubber or other water proof Inaeria Before the finger grips are made up on the ends of the strap one or more elongated, commerclal sponge rubber blocks 10 is mounted on the intermediate portion of the strap. The preferred method of mounting and fastenmg a block is to perforate this axially at 11 by a thin, hot blade 12, having parallel edges, while the block is suitably held, as in a knife guide G. The heat of the blade-melts the engaged cell walls of the rubber and the block 10 is immediately slipped into place on the strap while the rubber in the apertured zone is adhesively tacky so that it will adhere to the rubber strap surface. The strap being of greater cross-area or section than the per forating knife the result is that the aperture walls contract upon the interposed strap and the sticky hole stock freezes or vulcanizes firmly-onto the strap surface.

It is desirable to effectually close the ends of the strap receiving aperture 11 in the block 10 andthis is done by means of closure bands 13 of rubber, or other water-proof material, which are crowded up against the ends of the blocks. The bands 13 contact snugly on the strap and are vulcanized or otherwise fixed in place.

In order to hold the strap away from the skin of the-body at the smaller various curves thereof a plurality of the blocks is employed "and these are spaced endwise-from one anby means of the strap, be Well rubbed into the skin by the user without the assistance of other individuals.

What is claimed is:

1. A sanitary bath device including a strap, a sponge rubber block having an axial aperture normally of less cross-section than that of the strap; ,said block being .pierced by the strap and the walls of the apertures being contractive on the strap. a

2. A sanitary bath device consisting of a I water-proof, rubber-composition stra hay-- in finger grip loops at its ends, an body rubbing. means comprising a pair of blocks of sponge rubber penetrated axially by and fixed on the stra m s aced relation to each 10 other, and rub r c osure bands abut-ted against the ends of the blocks to protect thf same and cover the axial apertures entered by thevstrap and ifevententry of foreign matter; whereby t e device is kept in'a clean, sanitary condition; said strap providin for 15 the ready operation of the rubber b ocks across the back of the body and limbs of and by the bather.

CHARLES E. McKEAG. I 

